Canon 85mm f/1.8 vs. Sigma 85mm f/1.4 - Take 2

Good Morning -

I received my 2nd copy of the Sigma 85mm f/1.4 about 1/2 hour ago. Although it is way too early for me to tell which I prefer. Here's what I've come up with so far ...

The 2nd Sigma copymost definitely does not have the clanking hunting issue going on like my first copy that I mentioned in a previous post.Here is a link to another users same problem ...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/drewle/5198608130/in/pool-1464365@N22



AF is quick but hmmm....not quite as quick as the Canon f/1.8. Although I have not tested it yet on moving subjects yet (my dogs are sleeping but their turn will come). All I have really done in the last 1/2 hour is test the subjects below. If you click on the photos, you can view them better in flickr.


Canon - 1/30, f/2.8, ISO 500


http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4088/...30d6aea0ac.jpg

Sigma - 1/30, f/2.8, ISO 500


http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5204/...6b17dda988.jpg

Canon - 1/40, f/2.8, ISO 500


http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4106/...e1920f7920.jpg

Sigma - 1/40, f/2.8, 500


http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5043/...9d6bc8d57c.jpg

Canon - 1/50, f/2.8, ISO 320


http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4087/...0d807c8e3d.jpg

Sigma - 1/50, f/2.8, ISO 320


http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4084/...ecba2c871a.jpg

Print Screen of 100% Crop- Canon left, Sigma right


http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5047/...ee02ae5286.jpg

Please let me know your opinions. Or if there are other ways I should be testing these. Also, it might be fair to mention that the Canon has a AF Microadjustment of -3.

Thanks so much!

Denise

Here are a couple more photos. Focus is on the yellow lizards right eye.


1/60, f/2.0, ISO 640


Canon


http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4132/...e01580d075.jpg

Sigma


http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4124/...e44a5317ba.jpg
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Also, the more I use the Sigma, I am noticing it still does alittle bit of hunting. Much less than the 1st copy but the Canon doesn't do it at all.

Denise

Hi Denise here is my take on your situation.


The light shot is about even quality.


I think the Sigma wins the bottle shot.


The ball shot is about even.


And as posted the Sigma might have the switch shot.


But I think it goes further than that. First off your Canon 85 is a good lens and had been a favourite. But if I remember it is lens you don't use that often any more.


So why buy another 85mm? Well the 85 is primarily a portrait lens and you will have need for a good dedicated portrait lens. So what are the options and differences? The Canon 1.2 will be the best and it should be for the investment of that lens. Is it twice better than the Sigma?


Focus speed goes to the 1.8, with the 1.4 probably a tad quicker than the 1.2.


The Sigma has the 1.4 and is that worth twice as much as the Canon 1.8?


Let's say they are all sharp and work smooth enough for you, then you just have to match your needs or wants for the investment that you are prepared to make and what direction you might think your favoured photographic style might take you.


For me, I have about 5 different 77mm filters already so that suited the Sigma. I wanted 1.4 over 1.8 because for $900 I thought that was pretty good value. And that was the amount of money that I was prepared to invest on a dedicated portrait lens. I have other lens and body options that I am saving for, to buy in 2011. So while I could have gone without a few things andbought the 1.2 at the time, my idea was to redistribute thatextra $1000 and use it next year on something else.


So now you appear to have a good copy of the Sigma[H], is your 85mm needs fulfilled, for now? What other lenses are you thinking about?[*-)]


Cheers,


Steve

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ddt0725

Good Morning -

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Good evening [:D]

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ddt0725

Please let me know your opinions. Or if there are other ways I should be testing these.

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It looks to me like both lenses do great. Plus the Sigma seems to have quite good focus accuracy.


One thing though...what is it that you want to achieve with these tests? Seeing which one is better? At f2.8 for example the difference would be very small. Although in your side by side print screen I would have to say that the Sigma looks better to me.


Question: what was the reason for you to buy the Sigma? I assume for the larger aperture? Then test both lenses at max aperture and see what you like. Also compare the Canon to the Sigma, both at f1.8 and see which one performs better. The lens that has the best looking widest aperture that is usable, would be the winner I think? Also try to shoot at lower ISO values.


Of topic: the noise looks quite heavy on your shots. Especially for thoserelativelylow ISO-values. You might want to try "real" ISO values like 100-200-400-800-1600 etc.


Anyway enjoy your lens!

Hi Steve -


The 85mm is one of my favorite and is used a great deal. It is the main lens I use when taking photos of my grandkids. I would most definitely prefer to have the 1.2 but cannot bring myself to spend that much on one lens. I thought the Sigma would be a happy medium but so far I am not convinced it is better than the 1.8 nor worth the additional $500. More use and I will know for sure.


The only lens that I would get anytime soon might be the 135L.


Denise

I think the image quality of the Sigma lens is on par with the Canon lens, but I notice the Sigma underexposes the images in the first set a bit (maybe 1/3 stop or less). Also, I notice the Canon has somewhat a narrower field of view.


In the second set, the images are identical, but I guess it's because both are the same image! (taken with the Canon lens, yes, I did check the EXIF data [:D]).


BTW, nice composition, especially the picture of the hanging lamp!

Hi Carlos -


Thanks for pointing that out! I THINK it is now fixed. I screwed up when I renamed them being in such a hurry to do a comparision.


And yeah, composition is obviously the last thing from my mind when I am just testing lenses for AF, sharpness and contrast.


Thanks for looking ...BTW.


Denise

I agree with the idea to shoot both wide open, and both at f/1.8.


Looking at the bottle shots, the in-focus plane is different - depending on where you were trying to focus, the Sigma needs AFMA or the Canon needs to be re-AFMA'd. With the Canon the numbers under the barcode are sharp, with the Sigma the words above the barcode seem in focus but less sharp, but they seem less sharp (but they're on a curve, too).

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ddt0725

...I am just testing lenses for AF, sharpness and contrast.

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It's a bad idea to test all of those at once. If the AF of one lens is off (i.e. needs AFMA), it will look less sharp than another lens with accurate AF, even if the more accurately-focusing lens is actually less sharp. So, to test for sharpness and contrast, use Live View and 10x magnification to focus on the same spot with each lens. Test AF performance separately (ideally, after AFMA).

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ddt0725

The 85mm is one of my favorite and is used a great deal. It is the main lens I use when taking photos of my grandkids.
<div style="CLEAR: both"]</div>

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Sorry memory not as good as it once was.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ddt0725

More use and I will know for sure.
<div style="CLEAR: both"]</div>

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Yeah, it is probably time to stop doing comparisons between the 1.4 and the 1.8 and just go and shoot away with the 1.4. See if you like the feel and the weight and the benefit of the 1.4. You already have the 35mm so you know how thin it is at 1.4. Then check the results. With the 1.8 being one of your favourite lenses it will be a big job for the 1.4.


I rented the 85 1.2 and the 50 1.2, I have never used the 85 1.8 so when I reflected on the results for me the Sigma1.4 won very easily for the amount of money it cost.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ddt0725

The only lens that I would get anytime soon might be the 135L.
<div style="CLEAR: both"]</div>

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I would like to get the 135mm as well, but I am still considering the 50 or a 35mm. But I am very interested in that new Zeiss 35 1.4 that is released in February, I think that could be a killer lens.


Happy shooting.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by neuroanatomist

Looking at the bottle shots, the in-focus plane is different - depending on where you were trying to focus, the Sigma needs AFMA or the Canon needs to be re-AFMA'd. With the Canon the numbers under the barcode are sharp, with the Sigma the words above the barcode seem in focus but less sharp, but they seem less sharp (but they're on a curve, too).

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I saw this one too. And I'm not sure what the odds are, but it seems to me like she used centre point focus for this one. In that case the Sigma would be better than the Canon if you ask me [A]

Looking at these test shots the canon looks like it has better color and contrast to me. The sigma looks a little flatter.


Mark

The Sigma has less axial CA.

I have taken a few more shots inside and a few outside with just the Sigma and the Sigma is starting to grow on me. The larger apeture with this focal length will be very beneficial.

Last of the comparison shots. I know, I know ...try to control your excitement! [:P]

Canon on Left, both shot at f/1.8, 1/25, ISO 400, viewed at 50% in DPP

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5165/...aa246c0c_z.jpg



Canon on left @ 1.8, 1/25, ISO 400, Sigma @ 1.4, 1/25, ISO 200 (I know not a far comparison) He upped and walked away before I could take another!

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4151/...6d4214d9_z.jpg

Hi Denise....


It seems that the sigma wins in the golden comparison. It is much sharper wide open and at 1.8 verses the Canon. but it seems to me that the Canon missed focus just a tad, too. Were these hand held? Pretty hard to hold steady an 85mm lens at 1/25th a second...yet the Sigma seems fine in both shots, whereas the Canon does not??!! At least not the suggested focus point...


As far as not deciding about the lens...yes the Canon is going to faster than either the Sigma or the 85L....it is more of an all rounder. The Sigma and 85L are mainly for portraits, and maybe still life. When I tested the Sigma I had rented, using AI Servo on the 1D4(which coupled with my 70-200 2.8ll, is astounding focus wise!!), it, too, was a little slow. Which, in going what I said in last sentence, makes sense! But, at that wide of an aperture, missing shots is to be expected. But it does take wonderful pictures, and I think is worth the price paid...if you use it for its intended purpose!! In that respect, you might be happier with the Canon 1.8.


Just my 2 cents...


Good Luck,


Gregg

Good on you for doing tests to find out which lens fits you better. I'm sure you'll come to the right conclusion.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ddt0725

Canon on Left, both shot at f/1.8, 1/25, ISO 400, viewed at 50% in DPP

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I looked at this one -- the Canon shot has about 5 pixels of motion blur going from bottom left to upper-right. It could have been a very slight movement of the dog.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by greggf

the Canon does not??!! At least not the suggested focus point...

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I'd agree - assuming Jan's suggestion that you're using the center AF point is correct, your Canon 85/1.8 needs to have it's AMFA redone. Looking at the shot of the bottles, the Canon lens is front-focusing by at least 1/2-3/4" compared to the Sigma. Coupled with the motion blur that Daniel mentions, the last set of comparison shots isn't quite fair. To really compare sharpness of the two lenses, you need to have AFMA dialed in perfectly for both, or just manually focus them!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by neuroanatomist

your Canon 85/1.8 needs to have it's AMFA redone

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Can I throw in a maybe? :) Or atleast, a yes, but perhaps it won't be effective?


I've heard on this forum that some lens, even fancy expensive wide aperture primes, require different microadjust levels at different subject distances. They'll front focus at certain distances and back focus at others. Microadjust simply can't correct for this. Perhaps your Canon falls into that category, and you set up microadjust just fine, for one specific distance. If that's the case, and if the Sigma works with a fixed adjustment value (and perhaps that value is 0), then it's a no-brainer which is best. You go with the lens that can accurately focus, and has the wider aperture.